5th December, 2025
Operatives of the Sokoto State Police Command have dismantled a suspected bandit financing syndicate and arrested motorcycle thieves following two intelligence-driven operations conducted across Sokoto and Zamfara States on Wednesday.
The Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) stormed Gidan-Madi in Tangaza Local Government Area, arresting Ruwa Ginyo, the Fulani head of the community, alongside two accomplices. The suspects are believed to have served as brokers for a notorious bandit group, receiving stolen cattle, selling them at markets, and remitting proceeds to the criminals.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ahmad Rufai, spokesperson for the Sokoto Police Command, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday. He confirmed that four rustled cows were recovered during the operation as the suspects attempted to dispose of the animals.
“Investigations revealed that the suspects received rustled cattle from armed bandits, sold them in markets, and forwarded the proceeds to the criminals,” Rufai stated.
Commissioner of Police Ahmed Musa described the arrested individuals as the financial backbone sustaining bandit activities in the region. He emphasized that disrupting their funding channels represents a significant victory in the fight against banditry.
In a separate cross-border operation, the Command’s Strike Force pursued a motorcycle theft syndicate to Talata Mafara in Zamfara State, arresting several suspects involved in criminal conspiracy and receiving stolen property. Two motorcycles previously reported stolen in Sokoto were recovered during the raid.
Commissioner Musa stressed that the arrests demonstrate the Command’s expanding operational reach beyond state boundaries. He warned criminals that the era of seeking refuge across borders has ended.
The police chief called on residents, particularly livestock and motorcycle dealers, to verify ownership documents before conducting transactions. He urged the public to report suspicious activities promptly, noting that community cooperation remains critical to sustaining security gains.
All suspects remain in custody as investigations continue to unravel the wider criminal network operating across both states.